Martin Amidu recalls 1998 judicial exit, urges full probe into Torkornoo

Martin Amidu has warned against allowing Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to resign. This warning comes during an ongoing impeachment process. He referenced a similar incident from 1998 involving Justice Kweku Etrew Amua-Sekyi.

Amidu recalled how President Jerry John Rawlings accepted Amua-Sekyi's resignation. This allowed him to leave without facing consequences for serious misbehavior. “The resignation of Kweku Amua-Sekyi was accepted by President Rawlings,” he stated in an opinion piece.

Amidu, who was Deputy Attorney-General at the time, argued that the investigation committee should have stayed in control. He believed it was their duty to determine if the petitioner abandoned his case.

Reflecting on this decision, Amidu noted it allowed Amua-Sekyi to return to public office later. Under President John Agyekum Kufuor, he became Chairman of the National Reconciliation Commission.

“I suspected his appointment was due to his forced resignation,” said Amidu. He claimed that Amua-Sekyi sought revenge against those involved in his case. “The NDC, President Rawlings, and I became victims of his vengeance.”

In a political anecdote, Amidu shared behind-the-scenes actions that helped the NDC during hearings. He advised someone to ensure two key figures reconciled their stories or face blame.

“The situation at the Commission’s hearing quickly resolved in our favor,” he noted. The chaos lasted only ten minutes when President Rawlings appeared before them.

Amidu concluded with a warning for today’s leaders: “The President should not let history rhyme again.”